Quick Links

Golf Blackout

Have you ever hit a shot that turned out very well but it wasn’t how you expected to hit it? Were you disappointed by the quality of the shot? It seems that often times golfers are frustrated with less-than-desirably-struck-shots… it didn’t turn out like they had imagined. But then this is a difficult game! It’s a dynamic game, not a static one, and it’s good to keep in mind that the scorecard asks for merely the score at the end of the hole, not how the ball made it there. Those stories are best shared on the 19th hole and at dinner! Other sports such as diving, ice skating and gymnastics rely more on style/quality ratings… Wouldn’t it be even more difficult in golf if we had to score well on a hole AND see what the judges thought of the score? While I would like to receive many 9.9’s and 10’s, the beauty of golf is that style isn’t a requirement for a good shot. Golfers must play the game knowing that they will hit ‘poor’ shots, but keep in mind that these poor shots may still produce a great result! I think as golfers, we self-judge ourselves very critically.

The term golf blackout has been one I’ve used recently that describes the psychological approach of being result-oriented with regards to the outcome of the shot. There is a time to be process-oriented (create the strategy with regards to the target and how to get there) and result-oriented (set up, cue in on target and trust the swing to move the ball to that location without exerting unnecessary control). I challenge golfers to create ‘golf blackouts’ during the round to help with their scoring and goal-oriented (not emotion-oriented) mind frames. Whatever happens between the time the ball leaves the club face and the time it has settled into its new position, don’t recall how it made it there. Instead, look at what a wonderful position the ball is now lying in and look forward to the reward of a well-position ball for the next shot! After hitting a low, running shot that scoots through the bunker, pops up onto the green and rolls 5 feet from the hole, one might comment, “Wow, I have a great chance to make a 5-foot putt now!!” instead of sighing with disgust, criticizing oneself and wondering what needs to be fixed on the next swing (reminder: the ball is 5 FEET from the hole!!). If one blacks out the golf ball’s journey and plays golf looking at the outcome of the shot, it can be a very thrilling game. Make mental notes what to work on in the next practice session at the range (not the course!) and allow the golf blackouts to show you how many terrific RESULTS actually happen during a round. A parting quote from THE BOOK, “Every Shot Must Have a Purpose” (Pia Nilsson, Lynn Marriott, 2005)… “Often times the catalyst for destruction of a round of golf is not so much a poorly hit shot as it is the reaction to that shot.”

Comments are welcome, so long as they are civil. A Facebook account is required. Abuse may result in the commenter being permanently blocked. Personal attacks are strictly prohibited. We reserve the right to remove any comments at any time.